Sewage handling apparatus



March 5, 1963 R. F. CORLISS SEWAGE HANDLING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1Filed July 6. 1959 INVENTOR. 1067 602; 155

March 5, 1963 R. F. CORLISS 3,079,512

SEWAGE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed July e, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 12 EIll/5H um: 53 J z;

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March 5, 1963 R. F. coRLlss 3,079,612

SEWAGE HANDLING APPARATUS Filed July 6, 1959 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.iaaaer/z''aeuss United States PatentO 3,079,612 SEWAGE HANDLINGAPPARATUS Robert F. Corliss, Pasadena, Calif., assignor to MonogramPrecision Industries, Inc, Culver City, Calif., a corporation ofCaiifornia Filed July 6, 1959, Ser. No. 825,111 Claims. (Cl. 4-40) Thisinvention relates to sanitation systems, and more particularly to animproved recirculating sewage system.

More specifically, this invention relates to improvements in sewagehandling apparatus of the type employed in vehicles such as trains,aircraft, and the like. Such systems are of the self-contained type,wherein Waste matter is retained in the system during a trip. In thisconnection, chemicals are added to the system for disinfectant anddeodorizing purposes. Upon arrival at an appropriate stop, the system isdrained and supplied with a fresh supply of water and chemicals.

In sanitation systems heretofore employed in trains and aircraft, thereis for each toilet a complete assembly of a tank, filter and pump,wherein the pump forces fluid to be drawn from the tank through thefilter and into the toilet bowl, from which the fluid flushes wastematter into the tank. Such apparatus is generally satisfactory from thestandpoint of sanitation, but is objectionable on various other grounds.

In a typical construction, the toilet assembly, tank, and associatedfilter and pump devices are built into a complete unit and installed inthe lavatory compartment. Such units are bulky and occupy an undesirableamount of space, which of course is at -a premium in trains andaircraft.

Compartment space provided for restrooms is general ly small, andtherefore the number of toilet units that can be accommodated in acompartment is restricted, and it is often found that the few units areinsuficient to accommodate the number of passengers requiring the use ofa restroom.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved sanitationsystem for aircraft, trains and the like, which occupies a minimum ofspace.

Another object of this invention is to provide a closed loop sanitationsystem in which two or more toilet assemblies are operated by respectivepumps all connected to a common tank and filter arrangement.

It is a further object of this invention to provide, for a sanitationsystem, a unique self-priming pump.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a sanitationsystem having a plurality of toilet assemblies connected to a commonfluid supply, having unique means for timing the operation of each pumpand toilet assembly.

The above and other objects and advantages of this invention will becomeapparent from the following de-v scription taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings of an illustrative embodiment thereof, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a partial perspective View of a pair of toilet bowlassemblies in fluid connection with a common fluid supply, showing thearrangement of respective pumps for actuating a common filterpreparatory to forcing fluid into the toilet bowls;

FIGURE 2 is an exploded view of the parts of the filter drive mechanism;

FZGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 33 of FIGURE 1,showing the driving connection from each of the pump motors to the shaftfor operating the filter;

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of FIGURE 3,showing how the drivingconnections from the pump motors are adapted forslipping engagement to insure operation of the filter whether one orboth motors are operating;

' 'FIGURE 5 is a sectional side view of the toilet bowl assembly,showing the arrangement therein of the camoperated pan for allowingbuild up of fluid in the toilet bowl preparatory to flushing;

FIGURE 6 is a flow diagram showing the principle ofoperation of mysanitation system;

FIGURE 7 is a perspective view of the actuator for the pan, showing thearrangement of the cam for allowing the' pan to drop and then raising itto the horizontal position following the flushing cycle;

FIGURE 8 is an end elevation view of the actuator assembly, showing moreclearly how the cam controls the position of the pan about its pivot;

FIGURE 9 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 9-9 ofFIGURE 7, showing the spring biasing means for the shaft on which thepan is mounted, and also showing the arrangement of a manual releaseknob for positioning the shaft against operation by the cam, thereby topermit the pan to remain in a lowered position;

FIGURE 10 is a perspective view of the motor and pump assembly used inthe system;

FIGURE 11 is a sectional view taken along the line 11-11 of FIGURE 10,showing outwardly biased radially slidable vanes in the rotor;

IGURE 12 is a longitudinal sectional'view taken along the line 1212 ofFIGURE 10, showing the mounting of discs in abutment with the end facesof the rotor for efiecting self-priming action of the pump;

FIGURE 13 is a schematic diagram of electrical controi means for timingthe operations of the motor and actuator assemblies; and

FIGURE 14 is a chart which illustrates the on and off conditions andperiods of operation of certain relays andswitches of the controlcircuit of FiGURE 13, to aid in explaining the operation of the systemof my in vention;

Referring to FIGURE 1, there is shown a pair of toilet assemblies 10,11, having housings 12, 13 secured to a platform 14. Disposed below theplatform 14 is a tank 15 having a pipe connection 16 at one end withwhich the housings 12, 13 are in fluid communication, as by means ofconnections 17, 18. At the opposite end of the tank 15 is a filter 2!having fluid connections 21, 22)

to a pair of pumps 23, 24, such pumps having respective flush lines orpipe connections 25, 26 to the interiorsof the toilet housings 12, 13.The pumps 23, 24 are adapt ed for operation by respective motors 27-,28, which also have shaft connections 29, 36 to a ing or operating thefilter 20.

The flow diagram of FIGURE 6 illustrates the operation of my system,reference being made to parts as sociated with the toilet assembly 10 byway of example. When it is desired to flush the toilet, a switch (to bedescribed hereinafter) is actuated to start the pump 23.: The pump drawsfluid from the filter 2t} and forces it through the flush line 25 whereit enters a flush ring, generally indicated at 32, in the upper portionof the housing 12. Disposed Within the housing 12 is a pan 33 which isnormally in a closed position wherein to prevent fluid entering theupper portion of the housing 12 front passing to the lower portionthereof.

After a predetermined length-of time, when a quantity of fluid hasaccumulated in the upper portion of the housing 12, the pan 33 is openedso as to permit the fluid and waste material to pass through the bottomportion of the housing 12 and the connections 17 and 16 to the tank 15.After an additional short period of time to permit additional fluidpassing through the flush line 25 to gear box 41 for driv-i 3 thoroughlyrinse the interior of the housing 12, the pan 33 is closed.

As shown in both FIGURES 1 and 6, a vent line 34- from the tank isconnected, as by a connection 35, to the upper portion of the housing12. In a similar manner, a connection 36 is provided between theconnection 34 and the upper portion of the housing 13.

FIGURES l and 6 illustrate still another advantage of my system, whichis that the fluid carrying lines 16, 17,

e 21, 25, are all oriented below the toilets so that whenever thetoilets are not in use, the fluid drains from all the lines and pumpsinto the tank 15. In this regard, the weight of the fluid in the lines25, 26 above the pumps 23, 24 would drive the pumps backwards toaccomplish draining when the motors 27, 28 are not operating. By virtueof such arrangement, I am able to locate the tank 15 beneath the floor14 of the compartment, i.e., to remove the tank 15 altogether from theinterior of the quarters within which the toilets 1d, 11 are located.This means, for example, I can locate the tank 15 below the passengercompartments in train coaches and aircraft; due to the gravity feed offluid in the lines back to the tank 15, no freezing can occur (as incold weather) which might cause the lines to burst. Due to theconsiderable quantity or mass of fluid and waste matter in the tank 15,fluid in the tank does not freeze.

An additional advantage to being able to locate the tank below the floorof the compartment, and also being able to operate two or more toiletsfrom the common tank, is that my system is considerably less expensivethan prior art sanitation systems. In the coach of a train, for example,I provide one tank 15 below the fioor of the passenger compartment, andmake connections therefrom to toilets located at both ends of the coach,or to toilets located in adjacent compartments.

The filter is a mechanical, self-cleansing type filter, typical of whichis the so-called Cuno filter. This type of filter is one in which aplurality of spaced rotatable discs and stationary cleaner blades co-actto grind waste matter to extremely small particles, e.g., less than 300micron. The drive shaft for the filter 29 is shown at 40 in FIGURES 2and 3. The upper end of the shaft 40 extends into a gear box housing 41,and a miter gear 42 secured to the upper end of the shaft 49. The mitergear 42 is in meshing engagement with another miter gear 43 that ismounted on a horizontal shaft element 44 centrally located within thehousing 41. Also supported on the shaft element 44 is a gear 45 which isin meshing engagement with two gears'46, 47 mounted ou respectivehorizontal shaft elements 43, 49 supported in the housing 41. Alsomounted on the shaft elements 43, &9 are compression springs 5%, 5i anddriving sleeve elements 52, 53. I As shown in FIGURE 4, the shaftconnections 29, 39 from the motors 27, 28 are inserted in the ends ofthe shaft elements 43, 49 for driving such elements. The opposite endsof the springs 56, 51 abut the gears and driving sleeve elements mountedthereon, and force such elements apart, i.e., against the walls of thehousing 41 at the opposite ends of the shaft elements 48 49. By virtueof the spring elements, any rotationof the associated driving sleeveelement is transmitted through the spring to the gear, thereby effectingrotation of the gear 45. Such rotation of the gear 45 imparts rotationto the shaft 40 through the miter gears 42, 43.

The above-described filter drive assembly has the unique advantage thatoperation of only one of the motors 27, 28 effects rotation of thefilterdrive shaft 40. Referring to FIGURE 4, if the shaft 29 is turning andthe shaft 36 is stationary, rotation of the gear 45 due to turning ofthe gear 47 elfects rotation of the gear 46. However, there is nointeraction between the gear 46 and the shaft 30, because the spring 5-1slips with respect to the as sociated sleeve element. Thus, operation ofthe motor 27 effects turning of the filter shaft 46 without. anyinterference. In a similar manner, rotation of only the shaft 36 effectsoperation of the gear shaft 49* without imparte ing any rotation to theshaft 29.

Additionally, my unique filter drive assembly permits operation of thefilter'Ztl when both the motors 27, 28 are operating, but without anyinteraction between the two. Again referring to FIGURE 4, assume thatboth of the shafts 29, 3e are rotating; the shaft having the initialangular movement imparted thereto imparts rotation to the filter shaftin the manner previously described, and the spring associated with theother shaft and driving element merely slips with respect to theassociated gear. Thus, it will be seen that both of the toiletassemblies It 11 can be set into operation simultaneously, and thefilter 20 is operated properly. Since each of the pumps 23, 24 isconnected to the filter 2%), they simultaneously draw fluid from thefilter for flushing the associated toilet assembly.

The construct-ion of the toilet assembly of my invention is shown moreclearly in FIGURE 5, which illustrates the details of the toiletassembly 1 The flush ring 32 previously mentioned in connection withFIGURE 6 is located in the upper portion of the housing 12 below the lid55. The ring 32 is provided with a plurality of openings 56 throughwhich fluid forced through the flush line 25 passes, such openings 56being dimensioned and oriented so as to direct the fluid withconsiderable force at an angle against the sides of a bowl element 57which is anchored, as at 58, to the housing 12. This imparts a vigorousswirling motion to the fluid as it accumulates in the bowl, which hasthe effect of aerating the fluid and making it foamy or bubbly. Thisfoaming helps to give the liquid 21 light appearance. In addition, ifdesired, a dye may be mixed with fluid in the tank to give the fluid inthe bowl a more pleasing color.

The pan 33, previously mentioned in connection with FIGURE 6, is shownin FIGURE 5 to be disposed below the lower end of the bowl 57'. Theopening at the lower end of the bowl 57 is its smallest dimension,whereby to insure that fluid passing into the bowl 57 from the flushring 32 is caused to cover the entire inner surface of the.

, bowl 57 and wash off any waste particles.

The pan 33 in one position, as'shown in solid lines in FIGURE 5, forms aclosure element for the lower end of the bowl 57. The pan 33 is disposedbelow the lower end of the bowl 57, and, when in closure positionagainst such lower end, abuts a ring seal 58 secured to the lower end ofthe bowl 57. With this seal arrangement, Iprevent inadvertent leakage offluid from the bowl 57 into the lower portion of the housing 12. Also,the seal 58 serves as an odor trap, to prevent any offensive odors fromthe tank passing up into the bowl 57.

Disposed in the lower portion of the housing 12 is a funnel element 60which has an enlarged upper end extending above the pan 33 and abuttingthe outer surface of the bowl 57. The smaller end of the funnel element60 is adapted to receive the upper end of the discharge pipe connection17 to the tank.

The pan 33 is secured to a shaft 61 which is adapted for angularmovement (counterclockwise in FIGURE 5) to move the pan clear of thelower end of the bowl 57 so as to permit fluid and waste in the bowl toflow through the funnel element and connection 17 into the tank. In thisconnection, I employ control means to be described hereinafter forholding the pan 33 in the closure position until a predeterminedquantity of fluid from the flush ring 32 has accumulated in the bowl,and then suddenly moving the pan 33 away from its closure position toallow all the fluid and waste matter to pass through the funnel element60. The abrupt opening of the lower end of the bowl 57 results in aswirling action of the fluid, which aids in moving the waste matter tothe center of the opening. Such control means also keeps the pan 33 inthe open position for a predetermined period of time while fluidcontinues .to pass into the bowl from the flush ring 32, for additionalflushing and cleansing of the interior of the bowl 57. Thereafter, thepan 33 is moved back to the closed position.

FIGURES 7-9 show an actuator mechanism 59 for positioning the pan 33.Referring to FIGURES 7-9 along withFIGURE 5, a shaft 61 to which the pan33 is secured is a. hollow sleeve element which is disposed within theupper portion of the funnel element 60. As shown, the pan 33 is providedwith an integral strap 62 which is secured as by pins 63, to the sleeve61. The sleeve 61 is supported at its ends in a U-shaped bracket 64.

Extending through the sleeve 61 is a shaft rod 65, which at one end (theleft-hand end as seen in FIGURE 9) is slotted to receive one end of acoil spring 66. The other end of the coil spring 66 is secured in fixedspaced relation to the bracket 64, as by being connected to a smallbracket element 67 integral with the bracket 64. Adjacent its oppositeend, the shaft 65 is provided with a right-angle slot 68 to receive apin 69 which is fixed within a short sleeve element 70 that surroundsthe shaft 65. When the pin 69 is in the axial portion of the slot 68,the sleeve 70 is locked to the shaft. When the sleeve 79 is moved to theright, as indicated by the dotted line positions in FIGURE 9, to locatethe pin at the transverse portion of the slot 68, the sleeve 70 is freedfrom locking engagement with the shaft 65. A handle or knob 70' on thesleeve 70 is provided for moving the sleeve between these positions.

Normally the spring 66 urges the shaft 65 in a direction which wouldmove the pan 33 to the open position, and when the sleeve 70 is notlocked to the shaft 65, the weight of the pan and the tension of thespring 66 function to quickly drop the pan to the open position.

To effect operation of the sleeve 70 to control movement of the shaft65, I provide the sleeve 70 with an integral arm 75 and a bearingelement 76 rotatably mounted on (the end of the arm 75. When the sleeve70 is locked to the shaft 65, the arm 75 is in a position wherein afanshaped cam element 77 engages the bearing 76. The cam '77 (see FIGURE7) is mounted for rotation by a motor 78 which is supported in a housing79 immediately behind the bracket, 64. As shown, the bracket 64 issecured to the housing 79.

Referring to FIGURE 8, the cam 77 is arranged so that when the centerportion thereof engages the periphery of the bearing 76, the pan 33 isin the closed position; the arm, 75 and bearing 76 are disposed belowthe horizontal in this position of the pan. The motor 78 rotates the cam77 in a direction (counterclockwise in FIGURE 8), and when the camclears the bearing element 76, the pan 33 is freed to be dropped to theopen position, due to the action of the spring 66. In the open positionof the panv 33, the arm 75 and the bearing 76 are above the horizontal.Continued rotation of the cam 77 eventually results in one edge thereofengaging the bearing 76 so as to effect clockwise movement of thebearing 76, the arm 75, the sleeve 70, the shaft'65, and the sleeve 61,thereby causing the pan 33 to move upwardly toward the closed position.-,Continued movement of the cam 77 to the position shown in- FIGURE 8,wherein its center portion engages the bearing member 76, effectscomplete closeure of lower *end'of the bowl 57 by the pan 33.

As' previously mentioned, the pan 33 is held in the closed positionduring the flushing cycle until a predetermined quantity of fluid hasbeen injected into the upper {portion of the bowl 57, and then the pan33 is dropped to the open position. To this end, I synchronize theoperations of the pump motor and the actuator motor 78 bycontrol'circuit means as illustrated in FIGURE 13.

Referring to FIGURE 13, I show the pump motor 27 as adapted to be drivenfrom a three-phase source of Control of the complete switches 86, 87operated by the timer motor 80, and a switch 88 operated by theactuator.

A pushbutton switch 90 is provided to start the flushing cycle. When thepushbutton switch is momentarily closed, power is supplied to the pumpmotor 27. To this end, the coil of the relay 81 is connected between thejunction of a pair of back-to-back diodes 91, 92 and ground, with one ofthe diodes 91 connected in the forward direction between one lead 93, ofthree output leads 93, 94, 95 from a three-phase source, and one end ofrelay coil; the other end of the relay coil is connected to ground.

Thus, closing the pushbutton switch 90 causes the relay 81 to beenergized, whereupon its various sets of contacts 82-85 are closed. Theclosure of the relay contacts 83, 84, 85, connects the output leads 93,94, 95 from the three-phase source to the pump motor 27 to effect itsoperation. Closure of the pair of relay contacts 82 causes the timermotor, which as shown has a ground connection, to be set into operation.

In my control circuit, the relay 81 is kept energized, so as to keep thepump motor 27 and the timer motor 84) operating after the pushbuttonswitch 90 is released. To this end, I provide a connection 96 betweenthe timer motor and the movable arm of the switch 86. As shown, the armof the switch 86 is normally in engagement with a contact that isconnected, as through a lead 97, in circuit between the diode 92 and thecoil of the relay 81. Thus, upon closure of the pair of switch contacts82, the circuit for maintaining the coil of the relay 81 energized istraceable through the lead 93, the switch contacts 32, the lead 96, theswitch 86, the lead- 97, the diode 92, and the coil of the relay toground.

In the control circuit of my invention, switch 86 has a contactconnection 98 directly to the voltage lead 93. The switch 88 also has acontact connection 99 directly to the voltage lead 93. The switch 87 hasa contact connection 100 to the switch contacts 82, and the switches 87,83 have a common contact connection 101. When the switch 87 is in thedotted line position, the switch 88 is in the solid line position shown,whereby the actuator motor 78, which is connected between the switch armof the switch 88 and ground, is connected between the signal lead 93 andground. For moving the switches 86,

87 to either of their positions, the timer motor 80 may be provided withrespective cams (not shown) for operating the contact arms.

The switch 87 is moved to the dotted line position by the timer 80 at apredetermined instant following the beginning of the flushing cycle.This establishes operation of the actuator motor 73, which, as indicatedat 102, is mechanically coupled to the arm of the switch 88 to move itto the dotted line position shown, thereby to directly connect the motor73 to the signal lead 93 through the connection 99.

After a predetermined interval of time, the switch 67 is again opened,and at a subsequent period or instant of time the switch 86 is moved toits dotted line position. In this position of the switch 86, a directconnection is established between the lead 96 and the signal lead 93.This is necessary in order to keep the timer 89 operating, becausemovement of the switch 86 to its dotted line position breaks the circuitconnection through the relay 81, thereby .cle-energizing the relay andopening the several pairs of contacts 8285.

The timer 8t and the actuator motor 73 continue to operate for a briefinterval of time to the end of the flushing cycle, at which time thetimer 89 returns the switch 86 from the dotted line position to thesolid line position shown, and the actuator motor 78 permits the switch88 to return to its solid line position. As will be seen, the return ofthe switches 86, 83, to the solid line positions break the connectionfrom the signal lead 93 to both the timer motor 80 and the actuatormotor 78.

scribed in connection with the circuit of FIGURE 13. The timer motor 80is set to operate for a predetermined period of time, e.g., twentyseconds. Immediately upon actuating the pushbutton switch 90, the relay81 is energiz'ed, and remains energized for a period of approximately'18 seconds. After thirteen seconds past the start of the flushing cycle,the switch 87 is actuated to establish operation of the actuator motor78. Referring to FIGURE 7 along with FIGURES 13 and 14, this causes thecam 77 to rotate free of the bearing 76, thereby to allow the pan 33 toswing abruptly downwardly to the open position. At the end of 18seconds, the relay drops out and the switch 86 is actuated to keep thetimer motor operating along with the actuator motor 78. By the end ofthe twenty seconds time interval, the cam 77 has reached the position onthe bearing element 76 in which the pan 331s in the closed position.

As previously indicated, the actuator motor 78 effects operation of theswitch 88. How this is accomplished is shown most clearly in FIGURES 7and 8. As shown in FIGURE 7, a cam element 105 is secured on the sleeve70 adjacent the bracket 64, and a pushbutton 106 extending from a switchhousing 107, is positioned directly beneath the cam 105. In the closedposition of the pan 33, the cam 105 is in a position such that thepushbutton 106 is biased outwardly. In this position of the pushbutton106, the switch 88 (see FIGURE 13) is in the solid line position. Whenthe cam 77 clears the bearing 76 so as to permit the pan 33 to .drop tothe open position, the consequent rotation of the sleeve 70 etfectsrotation of the cam 105 so as to depress the pushbutton' 106. In it'sdepressed position, the pushbutton 106 actuates the switch SSso as toplace it in the dotted line position shown in FIGURE 13.

-As previously mentioned, the pumps 23, 24 are selfprinting. 7 Referringto FIGURES -12, which show the details of construction of one of thepumps 23, the pump rotor 110 is mounted on an axis parallel to the axisof the cylindrical opening 111 within the pump housing 112. The rotor110 has two pairs of diametrically opposed radial slots therein, inwhich respective impeller blades 113 are slidably mounted. Each of theimpeller blades 113 is biased outwardly against the inner wall of thehousing, as by springs 114. With such arrangement, I'insure against anyfluid or particles passing around the outer edges of the impellers 113,.and also provide that any fluid entering the housing, as at a lower port115, and carried around between the adjacent blades 113 to an upper port116, will not be lost or allowed to flow around the outer edges of theblades 113. However, when the rotor '110 is not being driven by a motor,as when the toilets are not in use, the weight of the fluid drainingbackthrough the upper port 116 is sufiicient to overcome frictional drag androtate the rotor to permit fluid drainage through the lower port 115.

To make the pumps self-priming, I also insure against any equalizationof pressures between different pairs of impeller blades, by preventingthe flow of any fluid around the ends of the rotor 110. To this end, andreferring to FIGURE 12, the end faces of the rotor are made smooth, andI provide disc elements 117 with smooth surfaces in frictionalengagement with the end faces of the rotor 110. Furthermore, the discs117 are of the diameter of the opening 111 in the housing 112. By sucharrangement, there is no fluid communication around the end faces of therotor 110, between spaces defined by difierent pairs of impellers, sothat immediately upon any slight rotation of the rotor 110, there isa'positive pressure difierential between .difierent chambers. Thus, thepump structure of my invention begins to operate immediately uponrotation of the rotor110. By thus avoiding delay of the desiredfunctioning of a pump, as is occasioned with the use of prior art pumpconstructions, I am able to maintain an accurately controlled'timingcyele for my sanitary systems.

8 While the foregoing describes a particular embodiment of. myinvention, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.Accordingly, I do not intend that my invention be limited, except as bythe appended claims.

I claim:

1. A closed loop sanitation system comprising: a reservoir for fluidcontaining a disinfectant; a receptacle having an opening into whichsewage may be deposited, said receptacle having an outlet connection tosaid reservoir; a movable partition in said receptacle being movable toa first position to prevent sewage passing to said outlet connection,and to a second position wherein sewage can pass to said outletconnection; means for positioning said partition in either of saidpositions; means for drawing fluid from said reservoir and forcing itinto said receptacle; and control means for causing said positioningmeans to normally hold said partition in said first position and to movesaid partition to said second position after a' predetermined timeperiod has elapsed since entry of fluid into said receptacle, so thatsewage deposited in said receptacle is quickly washed into saidreservoir, said control means also controlling said fluid drawing meansfor causing fluid to continue to flow into said receptacle for apredetermined length of time following movement of said partition tosaid second position. v

2. In a toilet structure having a receptacle mounted in the upper end ofthe toilet housing, and a closure element to be moved between a firstposition of closure against the lower end of the receptacle and a secondpositionwherein it is clear of such lower end, an actuator for theelement comprising: a sleeve secured to the closure element; a shaftextending through said sleeve, said shaft and sleeve being adaptedforunitary angular movement; a shaft control element releasably keyed tosaid shaft; a cam normally engaging said shaft control element so thatsaid shaft and sleeve are held in a position wherein the closure elementis in its first position; and timecontrolled means for driving said camto eifect angular movement of said shaftand sleeve to position'theclosure element in its second position. 7

3. In a toilet structure having arecep'tacle mounted in the upper end ofthe toilet housing, and a closure elemerit to be moved between a firstposition of closure against the lower end of the receptacle and a secondposition wherein it is clear of such lower end, an actuator for theelement comprising: a sleeve secured to the closure element; a shaftextending through said sleeve, said shaft and sleeve being adapted forunitary angular movement; a shaft control element releasably keyed tosaid shaft; a cam normally engaging said shaft control element so thatsaid shaft and sleeve are held in a position wherein the closure elementis in its first position; means for driving said came to effect angularmovement of said shaft 7 and sleeve to position the closure element inits second position; and timing means for said driving means to causesaid cam to actuate said shaft control element so as to return theclosure element to its first position after a predetermined period oftime in its second position.

4. In a sediment filter having a shaft for operating the filter, meansfor operating the shaft from a pair of motors comprising: a housing intowhich the end of the shaft extends; a first gear on said end of theshaft; a second gear in mesh with said first gear, said second gearbeing mounted on afirst shaft in said housing; a pair of shafts in saidhousing parallel to said first shaft; a second gear on said first shaft;2. gear on each of said pair of shafts in mesh with said second gear; adriving element on each of said pair of shafts for connection toarespective motor; and spring means intermediate each driving elementand the associated gear for transmitting rotation of the drivmg elementto such gear, the spring means for each driving element being adapted toslip with respect to its gear when its driving element is not operatingand the other driving element is operating.

5. A closed loop sanitation system comprising: a single reservoir forfluid containing a disinfectant; a plurality of units into which sewagemay be deposited, each of said units being connected to said singlereservoir; a pumping means for each unit for drawing fluid from saidreservoir and forcing it into the respective unit so as to flush sewagedeposited in said unit into said reservoir; 21 single filter meansintermediate said plurality of pumping means and said reservoir forconverting sewage present in the fluid drawn from said reservoir intominute particles, said filter means including a drive shaft, a housinginto which the end of said drive shaft extends, a first gear on the endof said drive shaft, a second gear enmeshed with said first gear, saidsecond gear being mounted on a first shaft within said housing, aplurality of shafts in said housing parallel to said first shaft, 21second gear on said first shaft, a gear on each of said plurality ofshafts enmeshed with said second gear, a driving element on each of saidplurality of shafts for connection to a respective pump motor, andspring means intermediate each driving element and the associated gearfor transmitting rotation of the driving element to such gear, thespring means for each driving element being adapted to slip with respectto its gear when its driving element is not operating and at least oneof the other driving elements is operating; and a plurality of motorsfor operating said pumping means and said filter means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,875,009 Johnson Aug. 30, 1932 2,047,866 Gross July 14, 1936 2,210,630Duner Aug. 6, 1940 2,451,598 Wilson Oct. 19, 1948 2,469,510 Martinm-assMay 10, 1949 2,513,286 Cook July 4, 1950 2,718,012 Howe Sept. 20, 19552,740,971 Weekes Apr. 10, 1956 2,798,228 Boester July 9, 1957 FOREIGNPATENTS 712,807 Great Britain July 28, 1954 742,519 Great Britain Dec.30, 1955

1. A CLOSED LOOP SANITATION SYSTEM COMPRISING: A RESERVOIR FOR FLUIDCONTAINING A DISINFECTANT; A RECEPTACLE HAVING AN OPENING INTO WHICHSEWAGE MAY BE DEPOSITED, SAID RECEPTACLE HAVING AN OUTLET CONNECTION TOSAID RESERVOIR; A MOVABLE PARTITION IN SAID RECEPTACLE BEING MOVABLE TOA FIRST POSITION TO PREVENT SEWAGE PASSING TO SAID OUTLET CONNECTION,AND TO A SECOND POSITION WHEREIN SEWAGE CAN PASS TO SAID OUTLETCONNECTION; MEANS FOR POSITIONING SAID PARTITION IN EITHER OF SAIDPOSITIONS; MEANS FOR DRAWING FLUID FROM SAID RESERVOIR AND FORCING ITINTO SAID RECEPTACLE; AND CONTROL MEANS FOR CAUSING SAID POSITIONINGMEANS TO NORMALLY HOLD SAID PARTITION IN SAID FIRST POSITION AND TO MOVESAID PARTITION TO SAID SECOND POSITION AFTER A PREDETERMINED TIME PERIODHAS ELAPSED SINCE ENTRY OF FLUID INTO SAID RECEPTACLE, SO THAT SEWAGEDEPOSITED IN SAID RECEPTACLE IS QUICKLY WASHED INTO SAID RESERVOIR, SAIDCONTROL MEANS ALSO CONTROLLING SAID FLUID DRAWING MEANS FOR CAUSINGFLUID TO CONTINUE TO FLOW INTO SAID RECEPTACLE FOR A PREDETERMINEDLENGTH OF TIME FOLLOWING MOVEMENT OF SAID PARTITION TO SAID SECONDPOSITION.